Meanwhile, another longtime restaurant, Shoney's, has closed its doors here.

The last Shoney's restaurant in Huntsville, at 905 North Memorial Parkway at University Drive, is closed and a sign posted on the door states that the restaurant is closed permanently.

Cheryl Neal Martin and her late husband, Doug Neal, who died two years ago, opened the first Beauregard's on Jordan Lane in 1995.

"With the (tough) economy, it's been hard," Martin said. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June, "we were never able to come out of it successfully. We couldn't make ends meet after the bankruptcy."

The Beauregard's restaurant at 1009 North Memorial Parkway closed in September.

The three restaurants have about 85 employees in all, Martin said, and the decision to close has been a difficult one.

"I have absolutely wonderful employees that are like family," she said.

Martin thanked customers for their loyalty over the years. "I thank them for making us a part of the Huntsville community."

The Shoney's restaurant at Memorial Parkway and University Drive has closed. (The Huntsville Times/Robin Conn)

Nashville-based Shoney's closed two Huntsville restaurants, at 10200 S. Memorial Parkway and at 4951 University Drive, in late 1999. That same year, the company closed more than 100 other restaurants.

There are now 11 Shoney's restaurants still operating in Alabama, including locations in Athens, Albertville, Florence and Muscle Shoals, according to the company's website.